Veronique Parker: Thoughts from WE12

1. My experience at the WE12 summary: Running around the career fair, interviews, laughing, inspirational speakers, food and ironing pants.
2. Some highlights: Photo Booths and Flip books from the hospitality suites.
3. Biggest surprise: the magnitude of the event. Over 6,000 attending all with the same mission- to meet other awesome people! The career fair itself was bigger than any I had ever seen by at least 5 times. The amount of recruiters and rotating displays all there just to meet us pulsed an energy through the crowd waiting to grab their interview slots, me included. 
4. Result: Multiple interviews, tons of business cards and way too much cool swag.

Samantha Kolpak: Thoughts from WE12

1. After the opening of the career fair Thursday night, company's can rent a room where the employees can socialize with conference attendees and network in a casual manner. These are called Hospitality Suites. During the United Technologies Hospitality Suite, I met this employee who served as my "job fairy godmother". She was determined to find me an internship within the company and her mission was to find me a recruiter to speak with.  After a few minutes after she introduced me to a recruiter, the recruiter offered me an interview for the next day. This was  one of the highlights of my trip.
2. During the session Purse 101, I learned how to manage my money by staying on budget. I also learned important information about managing debt, job salary's, net versus gross income, taxes, retirement plans, etc. I feel that this was one of the most beneficial workshops to attend and I know this information will help me in both the present and future.

Jessica Ziegler: Thoughts on WE12

1. How do we get high school girls interested in engineering? In the talk 'Engaging High School Girls through Service Learning Projects' I learned that high school girls don't respond to a one-day event as positively as younger girls do; they need something that they can commit to. This program had groups of the high school girls build a device for children with a disability. The parents of the child told the girls what kind of device they needed to help their child perform some task. Supervised by professional SWE volunteers, the high school girls built and presented these devices.
2. I learned from a NASA astronaut that even the best and the brightest don't always get what they want the first time. If you really want something you were turned down for, find some way to improve your credentials and try again.

First Place Schlumberger Essay by Veronique Parker

From Tiaras to Test Flights

Following the smooth, paved path while walking in-sync with the rest of the world has never really been my style. Growing up in a small town in upstate New York where there are more Canadian tourists than residents, it was easy to get a skewed vision of life.

The “thing to do” in good old Saranac Lake was to jump on the train for a choice of three different life paths. First option: Graduate from Saranac Lake Public High School with average grades with the rest of your 90 person class and then work at the local grocery store for the rest of your life. Second option: Drop out of high school ASAP and make a living buying and selling drugs on the bad side of town while reproducing like there’s no tomorrow. Third option: Graduate at the top of your class after being on prom court and captain of your sports team. Go to a nearby University to major in Language Arts. Return to Saranac Lake to raise your family and continue the cycle.

Which one did I pick? The second option. Just kidding.

My family was always a little “off” in the eyes of the town. We were the crazy family that decided to move to Australia for five years then come back and build a house on a mountain. We were the strange family with the little girl who talked funny with a blonde Afro instead of straight hair with bangs, liked vegemite instead of peanut butter and was attached to her stuffed animal platypus instead of her teddy bear or blanky.

Going back to the three options, it is needless to say that I made my own option. I graduated at the top of my small class after taking many Advanced Placement classes, being on prom, homecoming and winter carnival court, participating in the school musicals and being the captain of the soccer and volleyball teams. I am aware that this is starting to sound like option number 3, but I assure you that it is not with as much confidence as I have saying that my hair is incredibly frizzy right now.

The difference between me and the option 3-ers is that I had Aerospace Engineering as my destiny every since I was 12 and obsessed with planetarium shows. A female engineer-not typical. A female Aerospace engineer-seriously not typical. This was my arrogant attitude as I went to RPI with high expectations and even higher confidence.

What a slap in the face that first semester was. I found out that I am not particularly good at math or science when you pull this fish out of its small pond. I worked hard in high school, but it was time to take off my waders and put on my fins!

Easier said than done. Those fins are still giving me blisters today. I watched my classmates drop like anchors in the ocean, changing to an easier major or different engineering concentration.

Today as I enter my senior year of college, I am proud to say that my biggest accomplishment has been sticking with what I love through all of its rapids. My work ethic has continuously grown to be my greatest characteristic. I recently had the opportunity to intern at Calspan Corporation’s Flight Research Center. I worked on control systems using a simulator with engineers and pilots from the FAA, analyzed test flight data, and even got to fly a small plane! Only through this beaten, rarely traveled path would I get such opportunities and experiences. After a life of untraditional ways, how could I stray from having an exciting, untraditional career? I plan to continue my life (including my career) with the same gusto as the first 21 years of my life.

Second Place Schlumberger Essay by Stephanie Lennon

Shoes are an essential part of every girls life. Shoes help make an outfit, whether its your brand new Sperry's for your first day of high school, perfectly broken-in pointe shoes for your ballet lesson or those heels for prom you searched for months to find. Shoes make everything just a little more perfect. When I think of my future as an environmental engineer, I don't picture a pair of Sperry's or heel, I picture waders. For those who don't know, waders look like rain boots with attached waterproof overalls. I may look dorky wearing them, but that's half the fun. Wearing waders means that I am going to have a great day filled with water sampling. Nothing gets better than spending a hot July day in the sun taking water samples at a local river or beach. Who wants to spend their day sitting at a desk looking at a computer screen, I sure don't! Wearing waders through a rushing river is an experience like no other. You feel the cool water pressing against your legs, like you're standing in quicksand, but you can move around. It does get tricky when you slip and fall in the river, but who doesn't want to accidentally go swimming on the job? My shoes will lead me in many different directions, all of them unconventional; I'm not a conventional girl, I'm an engineer and proud of it.

Third Place Schlumberger Essay by Gina Trivellini

My shoes have wings. No, I’m not Hermes, nor did I just drink a can of Red Bull. Rather, my shoes have the ability to take me far beyond those sensible heels that reside in office cubicles worldwide; they will take me to the sky…literally. My name is Gina Trivellini, and my passion lies in aviation.

Since my first air show at eighteen months old, I’ve been fascinated by airplanes. For the past eight years I’ve been volunteering at my local municipal airport and museum, and more recently have begun taking flight lessons to eventually earn my pilot’s license.

I’m lucky enough to have parents who have driven me to explore my interest in airplanes. One of the programs they enrolled me in – an aviation camp a few summers ago – is the reason that I ultimately decided to pursue a career in aviation in the future.

Throughout my childhood I knew that I wanted to someday help improve the lives of others, but I was never sure what to say when asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Attending aviation camp was simply for fun – I got to go behind the scenes (and through countless metal detectors) in and around the Atlantic City Airport to see the runway pavement testing, baggage security screening, wind tunnels and a whole lot more.

One particular day at camp, a woman speaking about her career asked us, “Who here has considered becoming an aeronautical engineer?” A few boys – but only one girl – raised their hands. The woman went on to tell us that she was a rarity in a field dominated by males, but that she loved her job. She couldn’t emphasize enough how high the demand was for women engineers. Her words made such an impression that I couldn’t help but wonder if this was the career for me. Extensive research opened my eyes to endless opportunities. It wasn’t long before I realized that the ever-changing field of aeronautical engineering would allow me to do what I loved and see my impact on the world each and every day.

Elisabeth Posthill: Thoughts from WE12

1. I learned that the company Boston Scientific has a program called Close the Gap.  It aims to eliminate health care disparities, which are differences in the quality of health care simply due to racial or ethnic differences.
2. I also learned that not everything will be your dream job or situation, but you can still learn a lot from it and make the best of it.

Samantha Garrabrant: Thoughts from WE12

I had the opportunity to attend a workshop by Boston Scientific where they discussed a heart disease initiative that they started in conjunction with some other organizations.  It was all about raising awareness for heart disease and titled "Close the Gap".  I thought it was really special that the company makes medical devices, but goes the extra step to promote healthily lifestyles and equality as well.  More information can be found on their website, http://www.bostonscientific.com/your-heart-health/index.html.

I also got to attend a workshop present by collegiate members from Michigan Tech SWE, who gave us some tips about how to improve Evening with Industry for next year.

Emily Frantz: Thoughts from WE12

1. A presentation by Bechtel Corporation gave the basics of Small Modular Reactors, such as their Generation mPower project with Babcock & Wilcox.  The electric output of a small modular is less than 300 Megawatts, while a full nuclear power plant has an output of about 1000 MW.  One benefit is that these are built offsite and then brought in.  With the Generation mPower specifically, they are packaged in 180 MW increments and when installed, about 20 feet of it is above ground and 140 feet are below ground.
2. I also met Lynn Bresnahan, an RPI alumni, in her presentation "Where is my Crystal Ball?", on being unsure of your future.  The best advice to come from her presentation was that if you are not uncomfortable, you are not learning.

Jessica Stieglitz: Thoughts from WE12

I learned, via volunteering, how to make a product you’re producing the best it can be depending on whether you are aiming for long term customers or short term customers, different profit margins, and dependability. Over half of the process was planning, research, analysis, and discussion, and the rest of it had to do with engineering.

I also went to a workshop about working in a global group, which was mostly aiming at professional level members, but was also really relevant to working in groups for classes here at RPI. Most of it was communication and learning the culture of your group members, to avoid awkward circumstances. 

Cary Kaczowka: Thoughts on WE12

1. There are actually differences between the way men and women think! Our brains are spaghetti; everything is connected and we can be thinking about school and suddenly end up thinking about work or a haircut, or last year's spring break. Men's brains, however, are closer to waffles; there is a box for school, work, football, and for thinking about nothing. This may be why men might think we are a bit on the crazy/random side or why he might be flustered when the different 'boxes' start mixing together such as work friends and home friends.
2. There is a new professional SWE section: Hawaiian Islands! Maybe we should visit.
3. National SWE Members have access to the award-winning SWE journal online as well! This means you can forward interesting articles to friends or watch extra videos online.
4. Two new scholarships for Fiscal year 2014 include the Betty Shanahan Scholarship for a Graduate Student and an undergraduate scholarship for Native American Students!
5. As of two weeks ago, there were 20,541 societal members of SWE!
6. Look forward to We13 in Baltamore, MD on October 24th through 26th

Carly-Jeanne Gardiner: Thoughts from WE12

There were so many things happening at Conference that it was hard to go to everything.  I mostly attended Outreach events to pick up some new ideas.  At the Outreach Expo, I was able to see what other sections did for Outreach, and I learned how to get more involved with high schools in the area.

I did attend one non-Outreach event that left an impact with me: Emotional Intelligence.  During this session, the presenter discussed how to handle your emotions and how to not just control them, but to work through them and get past them.  She said that what is important to remember is that emotions never lie.  Your emotional response is always the correct reaction to the thoughts you are having.  You must change your thoughts to change your emotions.

Jill Johnson: Thoughts from WE12

1. Always follow up with a personalized thank you note after meeting a recruiter, interviewing, etc. Someone is always going to open up a personalized card addressed to them, however may overlook a thank you email in their inbox. A personalized card makes a better impression.
2. When you are budgeting your money, take notice of tax brackets. For example, for the first 8,000 dollars you make, you will be taxed let’s say 10%. After you earn the first 8,000 dollars in the fiscal year, you move up a tax bracket. This means that your tax will now be 12% on the money you make between 8,000 and 35,000 dollars. As you move up tax brackets, your monthly paycheck actually decreases. Your paycheck will be higher in January than it is in November. This means you must save your money. You will need it come November!

Madelaine Saunders: Thoughts from WE12

1. The most important thing about working is not to be afraid to make a mistake.  Mistakes are learning experiences and the way you relate to people is more important than being right the first time.
2.  What you put into SWE – and your professional life – is what you get out.  If you want to people to notice you and make connections put in hard work and effort.

Ashley Vassell: Thoughts from WE12

1.  I learned that one of the advantages of cloud computing is that the resources are always available, whenever a project requires them, so this lessens the amount of machines that are hoarded.
2.  I also learned that work, life balance is hard to achieve and you will almost always have to pick one aspect of your life over another

VP Ashley's SWEFL Experience

Hello RPI SWE!

At the end of last school year I was nominated to be the SWE Future Leader (SWEFL) for Region F and I was chosen! As a part of being on the Region F Collegiate Team you are invited to the Collegiate Leadership Forum in August. This year it was in Minneapolis, MN from August 16^th – 18^th. This was a great opportunity to learn more about how National SWE works and how the Board of Directors works with the Regional Collegiate Teams and how the RCT works with Collegiate sections. A special part of CLF is the Installation of the FY13 President, Board of Directors, and the Board of Trustees. Melissa Tata (FY12 President and RPI Alum) installed Alyse Stofer. She said a few words about her theme for this year “A Lifetime of Opportunity”.

One the first day I learned about the History of SWE going all the way back to 1950 with the Green Engineering camp in 1950. I also learned about the importance of having your own “Personal Board of Directors” which means having a mentor for different parts of your life. In my first SWEFL meeting I learned about what the different positions of the Regional Collegiate Board do, which you can read about on the Region F Blog (http://regionf.wordpress.com/). On the Second day I learned about Navigating the National SWE website. Which has a lot to offer! I also created my plan of action for this year.

Overall this was a great experience and I hope to contribute a lot to Region F as well as RPI SWE this school year!

Ashley Vassell

Vice President

RPI SWE Alumnae Named a Winner at the 2012 Women of Innovation Awards

Summary of the article from Inside Rensselaer:


Four Rensselaer alumnae were named finalists, including one winner, in the 2012 Women of Innovation Awards: A Celebration of Connecticut’s Outstanding Women in Science and Technology, sponsored by the Connecticut Technology Council (CTC). Now in its eighth year, this awards program gathers the Connecticut technology community to recognize women in the workforce who are innovators, role models, and leaders in the technology, science, and engineering fields.

Kimberly McLean (’90 M.S. Computer Science), principal engineer, General Dynamics Electric Boat, was honored as the winner in the “Community Innovation and Leadership” category. McLean has spent 27 years working in engineering and information technology at Electric Boat. She is a member of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and has been working with SWE and the Girl Scouts for almost 20 years to develop and present science, technology, engineering, and mathematics programs for girls of all ages. McLean works with the Girl Scouts to provide girls at camp with opportunities to learn about astronomy and the use of telescopes.

To learn more about the awards program, go to the CTC website at www.ct.org.


The article can be read here, http://www.rpi.edu/about/inside/issue/v6n6/women.html, or the edition of Inside Rensselaer can be watched here,  

Thoughts on the Region F Conference from a First Time Attendee!

From Emily Frantz, 2011-2012 Freshman Representative:

The Region F Conference at MIT was the first SWE conference I have attended.  It was an absolute blast!  If you have never gone, I highly recommend it.  As for cost, SWE usually offers reimbursements for those who apply! 

The first of four sessions I attended was Interview Skills by Michael Ross, a recruiter for General Dynamics with inside knowledge on the in’s and out’s to expect from employers.  He described a resume as your profile, where you want to create questions but not to be vague or lie.  He personally scans a resume in 8 seconds, looking from top to bottom, left to right.  He advised bolding key phrases, not just headings and to tailor each resume for the job.  Networking is crucial so always get the business cards of professionals you meet, with the goal being to get to hiring managers.  He also advises getting your own business cards to hand out.  Once you get the interview, prepare for it like game day.  He shuts off his phone and electronics to focus in.  You want to do your homework prior to the interview so that you have questions to stump the interviewer, and look for odd statistics on the company to ask about.  Keep in mind you are looking for a company that is a right fit, just as much as they are looking for the right employee.  The interview starts the moment you enter the building.  If you got into a car accident on the way over or faced other stressful situations, do not mention it and be composed.  Arrive 15 minutes early, no more no less.  Know the interviewers name and title, and be prepared for a team of interviewers or a behavioral interview.  In the interview, it is a good idea to ask to take notes and never let yourself relax.

Mr. Ross had great answers for when people typically cannot find the right words:

Three days after getting a business card, shoot them an email that says:

“I’m looking for networking opportunities.  I was wondering if I could use you and your network to look for future opportunities” OR “Is there any way I can utilize your networking circle for assistance/help in finding future opportunities.”

Do you plan to have a family?  (An audience member said she was asked this, but Mr. Ross stated that an interviewer typically stays far away from such a tricky topic)

“A family may or may not be I my future but I am focused on my career”

Do you have any questions?

“Could you tell me about the team I could be working with?” or “Give me three adjectives to describe your company”

What are you looking for a salary?

“I’m looking for an average wage within my field given my skill set”

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

“My weaknesses are that I’m too focused; take too much on, etc.”  (Make weaknesses strengths instead)

The second session I attended was on Acing the Technical Interview by Alison Cichowlas, a software engineer at Google.  She said that interviewers look for algorithms, code, data structures, analytical skills, and sound design.  Her tips were to review algorithms and data structures, as well as to practice writing code.  Employers will want to see actual code, not pseudo code, and to have a preference on what you like to use.  During the interview, think aloud, ask questions, and go the long way using all the tools in your toolbox.  Define an approach, propose a solution, and prepare for change and the problem to get more difficult.  The thought process is more important than the answer.  Do not let the first question affect your performance on the next.

The third session I attended was An Unconventional Approach to Engineering by Dana Canby.  The presentation was on the opportunities within the nuclear field through the United States Navy.  These opportunities are not just for nuclear engineers, but a wide range of engineers and scientists.  Much of the job training is done with the navy.  There are two sides to the career opportunities: the operational side working on aircraft carriers or submarines, and the support side.  The support side includes Nuclear Power School Instructors where you sign a contract for four years in Charleston, South Carolina, teach one or two classes a day, get secret clearance, have graduate school opportunities, a salary of $50,000 a year for four years, working ten hours a week.  The other support opportunity is working as a Naval Reactor Engineer on a five-year contact in Washington DC.  This is the top job held by approximately 380 naval reactor engineers, about a third of that is hired a year and typically have a 3.8 to 4.0 GPA.  An excellent program to jumpstart a career with the Navy in the nuclear field is to join the Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate Program (NUPOC) as a student.  The navy is 15% women and the NUPOC program is as well.

The final session I attended was a personal development workshop titled, Fight of Your Life: How to Stay Motivated Crossing the Sahara, by Kathleen Aston.  Her message that we have many deserts in our life and that we can’t let fear,  underdeveloped confidence, negative mindset, overwhelmed/chaos, fatigue, or disappointment detriment self-motivation.  The take away is that you want things to END well:

Environment:  find a shelter (safe haven), bring the right gear (emotional and mental intelligence), and tribe (surround yourselves with common direction and mindset)

Nourishment:  physical (take care of yourself to guard against fatigue and illness), emotional, intellectual, and spiritual

Destination:  always focus on where you are going instead of the sand dunes on the horizon (various hurdles you must face)

I took away a great deal from the various sessions and I encourage you all to attend the next conference!



 

RPI SWE Member Featured in Rensselaer Magazine!

Congratulations to RPI SWE member Meghan Olson ('14), 

who was recognized in the most recent edition of Rensselaer Magazine! 

Together with Caroline Pitner ('14), Meghan was featured on the cover of the Winter 11-12 edition of the on-campus magazine for her involvement in Rensselaer's entrepreneurship program.

From the article:
"When Meghan Olson '14 began her college career at Rensselaer last fall, she didn't expect to end up pitching a new product she helped develop to a panel of judges. But she and classmate Caroline Pitner '14 got 90 seconds to deliver their elevator pitch about a filter to remove arsenic from contaminated drinking water - using the natural filtering power of cattails. Entrepreneurship was not on Olson's mind when she decided to double-major in Mechanical Engineering and Design, Innovation, and Society" [page 25]

For the full article, see this link.